Keeping Washington Pays Dividends

NFL - Bucs - The Beat

August 15, 2002|By Chris Harry, Sentinel Staff Writer

PRACTICE REPORT: Todd Washington started just one game in his first four NFL seasons, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw enough of the utility lineman in spot duty to know they did not want to lose him to free agency last spring.

The Bucs are doubly pleased with the move now following the loss of starting RG Cosey Coleman to a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for at least one game of the regular season.

"The wheels can't fall off when one of your starters goes down,'' Washington said between workouts Wednesday at Disney's Wide World of Sports. "It's my job to make sure that there's no drop-off.''

Washington took over for Coleman after the Bucs starter twisted his knee during pregame warm-ups before Monday night's preseason opener against Miami. Washington moved into Coleman's spot that night and performed well.

"One of the reasons we re-signed him was to be ready when called upon,'' Coach Jon Gruden said. "We're calling now.''

Knowing the job is his, Washington has to take his game up a notch.

"They're giving me all the reps they can at guard so I can be ready,'' Washington said.The Bucs will wait to see how Coleman recuperates from surgery before deciding if they need help at guard. Russ Hochstein, a fifth-round draft pick in 2001, will back up Washington.

Potential free agents include Ray Brown, formerly of San Francisco, Ben Coleman and Matt Campbell, both of whom started at Washington last season, and long-time New York Giant Glenn Parker, who failed a physical with the team and was released in June.

INJURIES: DT Warren Sapp (knee), CB Dwight Smith (hamstring) and rookie WR Marquise Walker (ankle) were held out of the afternoon practice. TE Marco Battaglia (shin) sat out the morning workout but was back for the afternoon.

QUOTE: "I think about Tony all the time. . . . I called him the other day and thanked him for giving me the opportunity.'' -- WR Frank Murphy on former Bucs coach Tony Dungy, who encouraged Murphy to switch from running back to receiver. Murphy returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against the Dolphins and is a good bet to make the team again this year.